The little girl’s appearance was bright and beautiful, yet the corner of her eye had a teardrop mole, the tip of her nose was frozen red, outlining a few strands of charming pitifulness.
But she did not know of her own beauty, her watery eyes clean and clear.
If it were someone else, they would’ve long been regretful, giving rise to pity.
But Wei Zhao did not.
His heart was like a stone. He even casually glanced once, then didn’t look again.
Yu Tingwan spoke in a muffled tone: “I know you don’t wish to burden and delay me. But this road is one I myself want to walk, even if I knock my head open I will also accept it. You need not persuade me.”
Wei Zhao’s eyes gradually became vacant.
Not a single word was what he wanted to hear.
He swayed and staggered around Yu Tingwan.
Yu Tingwan: ???
Wei Zhao stepped into the room, just about to close the door, yet behind him there was one more tail.
“Don’t follow me.”
Yu Tingwan nicely and politely negotiated with him: “Can I go in and have a look? After all, I will also be living in this room in the future.”
Wei Zhao’s room was way better than the broken old house.
Inside the room were wooden stools and tables personally made by Wei Shouzhong, not worse than ones bought outside.
The bed was not big, but sleeping two people was more than enough.
Yu Tingwan was afraid of cold, in the future sharing one quilt, she did want to sleep next to Wei Shen.
Wei Zhao had never seen someone so inch-asking [得寸进尺: “gain an inch and ask for a mile”].
But, he was very tired.
He didn’t want to fuss about anything.
Wei Zhao could not walk fast, his steps even somewhat staggering, drooping his eyelids preparing to lie on the couch.
Hui-niang happened to come over holding a bowl at this time.
There was no one in the courtyard, she didn’t expect Yu Tingwan to be in Wei Zhao’s room.
However, since they were already preparing to talk marriage, in the countryside there weren’t that many rules, and the A’Lang’s body wasn’t well, no need to be particular about these things.
“Wan-niang, quickly eat some to pad your stomach.”
Hui-niang: “There’s nothing much to eat on your side either, in the future no need to start a fire, we live close, come over and eat together.”
Since they were going to be one family, Yu Tingwan also didn’t fake politeness.
“Then I’ll come over to light the fire for auntie.”
“Alright!”
Hui-niang also didn’t make Yu Tingwan leave, instead had her go sit at the stool side.
Wei Zhao: …
He stared blankly like a stiff corpse.
“These few days, your uncle and I have taken turns at night guarding him.”
Hui-niang said: “The ground is cold, really not good for making a floor bed. Look, that little couch by the side was moved from Xiao-niang’s room.”
“It’s made the room feel crowded and chaotic, but once you pass through the door [过门: traditional phrase meaning ‘marry into the household’], it can be carried out.”
Yu Tingwan held the bowl and drank. The sweet potato porridge was cooked just right, sweet and fragrant. Her body followed along and warmed up.
She squinted her eyes in enjoyment.
Don’t even mention not eating anything good at the old house—even in the Hu family, she never had porridge this thick and rich.
Hu Dazhu and Hu Dalang were both skilled in farming, their family shouldn’t have been this tight on money, but in the end they raised a scholar. If they didn’t scrimp and save, how could they afford to support him?
She listened earnestly to what Hui-niang said.
Hui-niang was a little embarrassed: “The betrothal money of one or two taels to exchange for a daughter-in-law like you is not something we can present with pride. But the family really can’t bring out much more.”
Yu Tingwan: “I understand.”
She didn’t say she didn’t want the betrothal money.
This was what she ought to have.
Whether the Wei family gave or not was one matter. Later, if her own family had difficulties, whether she would take it out to help turn things around was another matter.
What’s more, the two elders were honest and kind; they certainly wouldn’t be willing to take in a daughter-in-law for free.
“But what should be prepared for you still needs to be prepared.”
Hui-niang: “Your uncle went up the mountain early this morning to chop trees, planning to make two chests for you to use later.”
“You and A’Lang both take a look—if anything is still missing in the room, we’ll buy it all together later.”
Yu Tingwan felt warm in her heart.
She: “Okay.”
Not even waiting for Hui-niang to ask, the person in the room playing dead suddenly spoke up faintly: “I want a dagger.”
Hui-niang: …
She smiled at Yu Tingwan: “Why ask him, men are all careless—these matters still need us to decide.”
Wei Zhao weakly added: “…a sharp one.”
Hui-niang: …..
She laughed as she spoke with Yu Tingwan: “There’s quite a bit of cotton at home. I see your cotton-padded jacket is too thin, and it doesn’t fit either. Once the roads reopen, we’ll go to the county town to take a look, get a few bolts of cloth, and make clothes for you.”
Yu Tingwan immediately caught a loophole she minded.
The roads wouldn’t reopen until after the new year, right?
“Then when will I pass through the door?”
Hui-niang: “Once everything is properly prepared, then we’ll choose a good day. His father and I don’t want to wrong you.”
The little girl tugged at her clothes, troubled.
Hui-niang: “What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing…”
She pressed her lips together: “Just that I’m a bit in a hurry.”
She really was in a hurry.
Also worried that a long night would bring many dreams. [夜长梦多 literally “the longer the night, the more dreams come” — meaning the longer things are delayed, the more likely trouble is to arise.]
Once the roads are unsealed and Hu Dazhu and Hu Yaozu come back, who knows what could happen.
If someone stirs up trouble during the wedding days—wouldn’t that be unlucky?
Moreover…
Yu Tingwan also worried about Wei Shen’s body. If she hadn’t married in yet and Wei Shen died early, then what would she do!
She glanced at the person lying on the bed, without the slightest bit of shyness: “I already asked around, the dates before the new year are all pretty good.”
Hui-niang was slightly dazed.
“This is too rushed.”
Yu Tingwan looked at her wistfully.
Hui-niang: “Even the wedding clothes haven’t been prepared.”
Yu Tingwan: “That’s not really necessary either.”
Xilin Village is poor, every household scrimps and saves. In the village, there were girls who married without wearing wedding clothes, carrying a bundle on their backs to bid farewell to their parents, then just left with the groom.
She was sincere: “Why spend money to buy wedding clothes—it’s not practical. Aunt might as well later make me a set of everyday clothes that I can wear normally.”
“With me and Wei Shen present, once things are cleaned up and we bow to the hall, the matter is done.”
Hui-niang was troubled: “You’re already being wronged, I…”
“I don’t feel wronged.”
If Hui-niang were willing, she’d even be willing to move her things from the old house over right now and bow to the hall immediately.
Seeing the little girl so strongly willing, and Hui-niang being a quick and efficient person, she immediately made the decision.
“Alright, then we’ll hold it before the New Year. Our family can reunite and have a good new year. As for the exact day, your uncle and I will discuss and once it’s decided we’ll let you know. There’ll be quite a lot to do in the coming days—we still have to prepare the banquet.”
Yu Tingwan then asked: “Who are we planning to invite?”
In the countryside, if the family is still somewhat well-off, they’ll set up several tables of banquet and invite the neighbors over to make it lively. If money is tight, then just invite the important relatives and gather for a simple meal.
Hui-niang told her: “On the Wei family side, your uncle and I don’t plan on inviting the people from the big house, so as to avoid unexpected trouble. Last time when we were able to split the family, it was with the help of the village head and a few paternal uncles and elders—they must be invited.”
Hui-niang: “Later I’ll need to make a trip back to my mother’s house, to tell them we’re going to hold a wedding at home.”
As she spoke, she looked toward Yu Tingwan.
“The Hu family’s side…”
Yu Tingwan: “No need to call them.”
Hui-niang didn’t ask more: “Alright, as you wish.”
Seeing that she finished drinking the porridge, Hui-niang began tidying up.
“No need for you to wash, don’t let your hands touch water—take good care of yourself. You stay and talk with A’Lang.”
Hui-niang bustled out in a rush.
Inside the room were only the not-yet-familiar betrothed couple.
Wei Zhao wasn’t uncomfortable, because he didn’t place the marriage matter in his heart.
Yu Tingwan also wasn’t uncomfortable. She was quite obedient to what Hui-niang said, and strolled over to the front of the couch.
Under Wei Zhao’s listless gaze, the little girl was not the slightest bit reserved as she raised her hand and touched the thick quilt like it was a treasure.
She could hardly imagine—just how comfortable must it be to sleep under that.
Wei Zhao slowly said: “That’s my quilt.”
Yu Tingwan, innocent: “In the future, it’s mine too.”
Still unversed in love and emotion, she even boldly pointed at Wei Zhao.
“You are mine too.”
—-